| ext">Almost 85% of the energy demands we have | | | | expensive and pose environmental issues. Energy |
| is met by non-renewable energy sources like oil, | | | | from water can be harnessed using large-scale |
| petrol, coal etc. Unfortunately, these resources are | | | | hydroelectric dams, micro hydro systems, damless |
| limited and with indiscriminate use will deplete and | | | | hydro systems deriving energy from rivers and |
| eventually dry up. Using these fuels also tends to | | | | oceans, tidal stream power, wave power, saline |
| emit carbon into the atmosphere which is toxic and a | | | | gradient power etc. |
| pollutant. This is the primary cause of the green | | | | A third source of clean energy, and one that is the |
| house effect and global warming. | | | | most freely available is solar energy. With solar |
| So what is the solution to this? How do you do the | | | | energy there is no issue of boundaries of countries |
| right thing for the environment? The answer to this | | | | and who the resource belongs to. Solar energy is also |
| lies in Clean energy. | | | | very important as it is virtually pollution-free and |
| Clean energy is known alternatively as Green energy, | | | | therefore environmental friendly. Solar energy has |
| Renewable energy or Alternative energy. Basically, | | | | gained increasing popularity since the 1970’s |
| clean energy is non-fossil based. Clean energy is | | | | ever since oil prices started increasing. In many |
| considered to be non-polluting, non-toxic, and | | | | countries, solar energy is used in daily chores like for |
| environmentally friendly. Generally sources of clean | | | | drying clothes, vegetables, for pickling etc. Similarly, |
| energy are natural sources which are harnessed to | | | | there are now solar panels available which can be |
| produce energy — wind energy, solar power, | | | | used to absorb sunlight and use the energy for |
| hydropower, tidal power, geothermal energy and | | | | heating and cooking purposes. In fact such is the |
| biomass. | | | | potential of solar energy that newer factories being |
| Clean energy is increasingly gaining popularity amongst | | | | set up are using technology to utilise solar energy, |
| individual consumers as well as businesses and | | | | helping the environment and reducing their own costs. |
| organizations. It’s the best choice for those | | | | Solar energy can be used for cooking, heating, |
| looking to do their bit for the environment and also | | | | distillation, power generation, cooling, refrigeration, |
| increase their nation’s energy independence. In | | | | drying etc. For harnessing solar energy products like |
| the US nearly one million homes have purchased | | | | solar cookers, water heaters, hot air systems, power |
| Green certificates to support this form of energy. | | | | tower, etc are available. You too can easily setup any |
| One of the more common sources of clean energy is | | | | of the solar power based equipments in your |
| wind power. For centuries we’ve seen wind | | | | backyard or on your terrace. While the initial cost of |
| energy being harnessed and used by humans in the | | | | setup may be on a higher side as compared to the |
| form of wind mills and sail boats. This source of | | | | AC powered equipments, in the long run solar power |
| energy makes use of airflows to run wind turbines. | | | | run equipments prove highly economical. Apart from |
| Basically, higher the wind speed more is the power | | | | that certain states also offer tax rebates, |
| output. Thus wind power is a very good source of | | | | concessions and soft loans on purchase and |
| energy in areas with strong winds which are | | | | installation of such clean energy harnessing products |
| constant, such as offshore and high altitude sites. | | | | at home or in offices. |
| Wind turbines are being used to pump water, for | | | | Biomass is another clean energy source. It is derived |
| grinding grains and also to charge batteries. Germany, | | | | from the waste of human and natural activities. The |
| Denmark, India, Spain and the US account for about | | | | major sources of biomass include by products from |
| 80% of the world’s installed wind energy | | | | agricultural crops, raw materials from the forest, |
| capacity. Find out if your area too is suitable for | | | | major chunk of household waste etc. Biomass is very |
| utilising wind energy. | | | | efficient as a renewable fuel as it does not add any |
| Water Power, also known as Hydro energy is a very | | | | additional carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as it |
| popular and highly effective source of renewable | | | | absorbs as much when being developed. In countries |
| energy. Water has immense potential as an energy | | | | like India, villages have biogas plants which make use |
| source as it about 800 times denser than air. This | | | | of farm and animal waste to produce gas for home |
| means that even a slow flow of water or a | | | | and small industry use. In countries like the US, |
| moderate sea swell has the ability to generate quite | | | | biomass is being used for heat and power generation. |
| a bit of energy. Hydro power is one of the best, | | | | Seeing how beneficial and economical clean energy |
| cheapest and cleanest sources of energy. Of course, | | | | sources are, it is definitely the right thing to do for |
| building dams to harness this energy may prove | | | | the environment. |